1 Samuel 26:18-20 - And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing
his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of ? Now let my lord the king listen
to his servant's words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he
accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be
cursed before the LORD! They have now driven me from my share in the LORD's
inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.'
Now do not let my blood fall
to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come
out to look for a flea--as one hunts a partridge in the
mountains."
Saul was once again chasing David…but this time David knew
he was coming…so he sent out spies to keep tabs on how close he got to his
camp. One evening …the spies returned to reveal Saul’s position …so David
enlisted a volunteer to go with him and check it out. They found the king asleep…encircled by his
men…also asleep.
David’s brave volunteer was ready to kill Saul….but David
said no…and reminded him of Saul’s anointing….and the authority God had placed
in his hands. But David did decide to take the king’s spear and water jug from
him while he slept…and they both left for a hill just outside of camp…still
within range for David to shout to the king and his men.
His speech revealed that he had had another chance to kill
Saul…and that he had taken his water jug and spear as proof. He cried out to
Saul…to name the wrong he had committed. David’s speech was a long…emotional vent
of pain and frustration he had felt since he began running and hiding from the
king. It described how he felt cut off
from his nation…and place of worship and ended with a spoken curse on Saul if
this chase and pursuit were not God’s idea.
I can only imagine David’s cry on that hilltop…the pain and
frustration all coming to an emotional head. He modeled for us all how a speech
should be made to one we don’t agree with…factual…in love…with respect for all
that might be hearing. It was embedded
with all that he had learned over the time he had been running from Saul…every uncomfortable
night of restless sleep in a cave….every fear of what might happen if he had
been caught…every prayer and song he had written to process the lesson God
might be teaching him. Even disconnected from the people and tabernacle where
he worshiped…David managed to cling to God for his strength and wisdom.
I know that I need to grow up and be more like David…for I
am one that hasn’t mastered the art of waiting on God. I still flare up with righteous
indignation way too much when I feel betrayed or wronged. I slump into that
pity party too quickly. I want to shout out…but not in love and compassion. And
I admit that I still enjoy… way too much the …the poetic justice that God
allows me to witness sometimes. I need to allow God to speak to me in my times
of frustration and pain…so he can use it to teach me mercy and compassion.
Father…I thank you for this story that reminds me to allow my
pain and frustration to teach me more about your perfect love. Show me how to
control my tongue…and wait for you to put together the perfect moment for me to
speak your truth to others. Help me to cling to you in my moments of loneliness
and pain…and allow it to draw me even closer to your sword pieced side. Help me to reach out to your nail scarred
hands …the next time I feel a pity party coming on….so you can guide me back to
the warmth of your love. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment